About Swarts Architects

Swarts Architects is a boutique residential design studio led by Jaco Swarts, dedicated to creating modern, site-responsive homes across Ojai, Montecito, and Santa Barbara region. With over 26 years of experience in the custom home industry, the practice combines architectural clarity with deep construction knowledge and an enduring respect for craftsmanship.

Every project receives the personal involvement of its principal, ensuring a collaborative and efficient process from concept through completion. Swarts Architects believe good architecture emerges from a balance between creativity and purpose — design that elevates daily life and reflects the individuality of the client and the spirit of place.

Rooted in the intimacy of a small studio, each commission is approached with precision, curiosity, and care. The result is architecture that is both personal and enduring — homes defined by warmth, thoughtful proportion, and a genuine connection to landscape and light.

A Foundation in Craft and Mentorship

Jaco's path to architecture began early — apprenticing in his teens under the mentorship of his mother and sister, both accomplished custom home contractors and architects in South Africa. This formative experience instilled a lifelong appreciation for the built environment, hands-on craftsmanship, and the connection between design and construction.

After graduating from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Jaco's career led him west, where he gained exceptional experience with respected California studios including Mary Ann at Studio Schicketanz and Michael Guthry & Co. Over the past two decades, he has served as project designer and manager for numerous high-end custom residences — from Napa and the Bay Area to Big Sur, Carmel, and Montecito.

These collaborations shaped a design approach grounded in responsiveness to context, material honesty, and the enduring dialogue between architecture and nature — principles that continue to define the work of Swarts Architects today.

Jaco Swarts

Principal & Founder